This post begins with a theory derived from Aristotle – the great Greek philosopher. Many centuries ago, in a land far far away (not an introduction to Star Wars), Aristotle defined what is now commonly referred to as first principles.
A first principle is finding the foundations of something to its most basic core until it cannot be deduced any further.. in other “letters”
f ′ ( x ) = lim h → 0 (f ( x + h ) − f ( x )) /h
When implemented to problem solving, it helps to revolutionise the world’s biggest feats, just ask Elon Musk!
As one of the world’s richest men, Elon cites his successes attributed to the launch of Tesla, SpaceX and Paypal, to the adoption of first principle thinking.
Breaking something down to the granular level helps to build it back up in a better way. A cornerstone of Physics, this truth can also help with personal pursuits, such as goal setting.
A timely mention of goal setting; given the first month of a new year lends itself to a temporal landmark, the desire to look forward not back sets in. Much like the setting in of dew on morning grass, suggesting clear skies ahead. With dewy mornings especially common in the colder months, maybe it’s nature’s way of marking January on it’s calendar as a month for new beginnings with skies bereft of clouds.
For when “dew is on the grass, rain will never come to pass”.
Within this clearness of day we see a brighter future. And so, we look upon the horizon of these new beginnings and set in place goals to accomplish in the year ahead.
But without taking stock of where we are … or how we got here.
Temporal landmarks such as one’s birthday, or the start of a new week, month or year, is a profound period that is regarded as significant to help initiate a new behaviour.
Focus on my diet is at its peak on Monday’s, and then dips, and dips, and dips some more (with some Doritos to accompany by Friday).
Psychological studies have shown an increase in gym memberships on the first day of a month. The correlation is much stronger in the month of January. In a study by Dai et al, it was found that people see future temporal landmarks as favourable times to initiate goal pursuits. In further studies researchers have shown that people usually audit their lives to identify meaningfulness and happiness leading up to their 30th birthday. More positive decisions are attributed to turning 30, as a turn of the ages so to speak.
Pegging a boost in motivation to a temporal landmark is often the case. But with a temporal landmark breaking up past from future, it also allows for an opportunity to self-reflect and reharmonise.
As a wise philosopher once said, “reflection gives life to a heart of an insightful individual, just as light protects those walking in the dark”.
Try summing up your 2023 in one word. What word comes to mind?
My word would be PROFOUND.
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